Navigator 2nd/Lt. Robert D. Snyder KIA Hometown: Illinois Service # O-682375 Squadron: 577th BS 392th Bomb Group Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart Pilot 1st/Lt. William F. Usry Jr. KIA

Target: Frankfurt Germany CASUALTIES NOT LISTED IN MACR Date Lost: 29-Jan-44 Serial Number: #42-100005 Aircraft Model B-24J Aircraft Letter: "P" Aircraft Name: "OLD MAN BOSTON MARCLAR," 2nd mission Location:one mile south of Station 124 (Tibenham) Cause: mid air collision 10KIA

Briefings were held between 0330-0400 and at 0800 hours, (30) aircrews began take-offs. An unfortunate mishap occurred during form up, which began the aircrews' mission badly, when Lieutenant W. F. Usry's aircraft, #005 of the 577th, had a mid-air collision with one of the PFF ships, #669, pilot 1st Lieutenant J. N. Taylor of the 432nd Bomb Squadron and one of the former original crews of the 392nd. All of Lt Usry's crew were killed. In Lt Taylor's ship, Major Clyde T. Gray, Commander of the 576th Squadron was killed as well as all but (3) of Lt Taylor's crew. Maj. Clyde T. Gray, 576th Sqdn, was mission command pilot in the lead Pathfinder aircraft from the 482nd Bomb Group. Everyone in that crew but Denby had previously been assigned to the 392nd Bomb Group, 577th Sqdn, and had flown several missions with the 392nd. During form-up, 1Lt Usry's plane and the PFF plane collided at 14,000 feet approximately one mile south of Station 124 (Tibenham). Everyone in 1/Lt Usry's plane was killed; Maj. Gray and seven others in the PFF plane were killed. The wreckage of both planes fell near the English villages of Gissing and Tivetshall, Norfolk. On U.S. overseas burials, 2/Lt Turner and Sgt Goodman are interred at CAMBRIDGE in Graves C-1-70 and E-5-76, respectively. Turner's home of record was given as Washington, DC, and Goodman's as Mississippi. Both are noted to have been awarded one Air Medal and the Purple Heart. S/Sgt Matta is interred at Woodlawn National Cemetery in Section F, Site 4193.

The"OLD MAN BOSTON MARCLAR," crew

1/Lt. William F. Usry Pilot

2nd/Lt. Dwight L. Turner Co Pilot

2nd/Lt. Robert D. Snyder Navigator

2nd/Lt. Carl E. Floyd Bombardier

T/Sgt. Lawrence Goodman Engineer

T/Sgt. Robert E. Howard Radio Op.

S/Sgt. Irving D. Matta Gunner

S/Sgt. George Horowitz Gunner

S/Sgt. Virgil N. Dunlap Gunner

S/Sgt. Davis G. Troxel, Jr. Gunner

source: Find A Grave Memorial, John Dowdy contributor

Robert D Snyder